Diocese of The Murray

This Diocese of 52,426 sq. km. is bounded in the North by the Murray River, and extends westward into the Capital City of Adelaide, and to the southeast corner of the State and the Southern Ocean.

Industries include sheep and cattle husbandry; extensive vineyards; fruit growing; timber; and fishing.

This Diocese was separated from the Adelaide Diocese in 1970 and has a strong MU involvement. There are currently 14 branches and 260 members scattered over this vast area. Members have to travel long distances to attend meetings, sometimes in temperatures exceeding 40 degrees centigrade. The Away-from-it-All holiday programme is used to assist needy families to go on holidays. A yearly Diocesan Stop-over is held in a bush camp setting, a time for learning, sharing, and worship.

With an 80% rural content, the Diocese is faced with the social and family challenges produced by ongoing economic changes. The other 20% of the Diocese faces similar challenges created by the rapidly expanding suburban sprawl where many light industries are found.

Monday 19^th July		AGM & Council
August		Executive Meeting
Saturday 7^th August		Provincial Joining Together on Mary Sumner Day
September		Wave of Prayer
October		Executive Meeting
Sunday 24^th October to Thursday 28^th October		Diocesan President to MU Australia Council to be held at Palotti College in Victoria

From THE MURRAY con-TRIBUTARY Newsletter, March 2010
from Cheryl Bainton, DP

Our grateful thanks go to Margaret Cameron for producing the con-Tributary magazine over many years and especially for continuing on her own in recent years. Margaret has now retired from this responsibility but as Life Vice President, we hope she will still join in at Executive level. I plan to continue with a simplified quarterly newsletter to keep you all up to date with news or "contributed" items you wish to share.

In our parish we have had a busy start to the year with AGMs, planning meetings, Lenten studies, etc. Therefore, it has been very helpful to have the MU "Cost of Relationships" resources on hand to use in the parish. The Lenten prayer chart has been included in our pewsheet and the Mothering Sunday resources are there for us to use as well. When we hosted the World Day of Prayer it was encouraging to receive news and pictures of our MU sisters in Cameroon from Deane Bray.

Dedication of "Fashioner of the Future" wall hanging
The MU year began early with a delightful gathering of approx 55 members from across the 3 Dioceses at St George's Church, Meadows, on the 14^th February. This dedication service for the huge wall hanging "Fashioner of the Future" was conducted by our chaplain, Bishop Stuart Smith, and was in the context of the Special Candle Liturgy from our new MU Worship and Prayer Book.

Following the service we welcomed Bishop Stuart and his wife Judith as members of MU. (Bishop Smith had served in Meadows and district very early on in his ministry.) On this warm afternoon a picnic afternoon tea in the shady grounds was very enjoyable and was a good time to catch up with friends.

This wall hanging has been returned to our MU Provincial Committee after many years interstate and the Provincial Committee had the task of finding a suitable blank wall where it could be displayed. The Rector and wardens of St George's, Meadows (Parish of Strathalbyn), were very obliging and showed wonderful hospitality on the day.

If branches would like an outing to Meadows to view the wall hanging, please phone Warden Catherine Gibson.

Parenting Education Program - for your prayers please!
Liz and Lyal Hampel have another Parenting Education Program planned at Mount Barker commencing on April 9^th. Please pray for their dedicated ministry to young parents and think about the possibility of a PEP in your area.

Strathalbyn Branch welcomes new members from the UK
The Rev'd David Smith and his wife Eileen have retired to Strathalbyn from the UK where Eileen was a Diocesan President. Fr David is also a keen MU member and Eileen is greatly missed by MU members in her previous Diocese in the UK.

AGM & Council Meeting - Monday July 19^th, 10:30am
Strathalbyn Parish Hall. Lap lunch and discussion on topics for Australian Council.
The winter winds may be blowing by then but it will be cosy inside the building.

Vale Mary Bleby
We give thanks for the life and work of Mrs Mary Bleby who passed away in March. In 1970 Mary was appointed as the first Diocesan President of MU in The Murray by Bishop Porter. Mary held this position until 1976 and was subsequently made a Life Vice President. Mary will be remembered for her vibrant personality and wonderful work for MU in The Murray.


Diocesan President
Mrs Cheryl Bainton